We have assembled a series of questions that are frequently raised by local restaurants that are consider participation in Restaurant Week. If you are not a restaurant owner, but would like some tips on how to best enjoy Restaurant Week in Puerto Vallarta, please click here.

What is Restaurant Week?

Restaurant Week is a 17-day culinary festival established by Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group in 2005 in which some of the finest restaurants from Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit offer fixed-price, three-course menus, with three options available for each course. Since the prices are often discounted by up to 50% (tips and beverages not included), dining out during this time period is not only more fun, but also much more affordable.

When does Restaurant Week take place?

Restaurant Week takes place in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit every year, from May 15 - 31.

How much does it cost to participate in Restaurant Week?

Restaurant Week participation is $5,000 pesos for Vallarta Lifestyles advertisers and CANIRAC members, and $6,000 for non-Vallarta Lifestyles advertisers. Restaurants can choose to offer their special Restaurant Week fixed-price, three-course menu at either $189 or $299 pesos per person, beverages and tips not included.

What do I receive as part of my participation fee?

Promotion in Vallarta Lifestyles magazine, Spring/Summer issue, available May 1st.

Inclusion in the Restaurant Week Menu Guide, distributed separately at participating restaurants, and online, in downloadable digital format. (To see a sample guide from a past event, please click here.)

Pre-printed, personalized Restaurant Week menus for your restaurant.

Individual, personalized Restaurant Week menu in JPG format for distribution through Facebook and other social media outlets.

A large banner to display at your restaurant to indicate that you are participating in Restaurant Week.

Additional promotion through radio interviews and newspaper articles whenever possible.

How useful is the digital edition of the Menu Guide?

Very! We usually publish the menu guide online in the last week of March, almost 8 weeks before Restaurant Week begins. This allows potential customers to view your offerings way in advance. Last year, the Menu Guide was published online on March 26. To date, its pages have been browsed over 51,000 times online.

Can I offer my regular menu at the same time?

Yes, you can. Restaurant Week's goal is to get people to your restaurant. Once there, you can enhance your offerings with your regular menu or other upgrades.

I wish to participate in this year's event. What is the deadline?

The deadline to sign a contract and pay for your participation fee is March 10. The deadline to submit your Restaurant Week menus and additional information is March 15.

Why is the deadline in early March? The event is not until mid May.

We wish to ensure that all the restaurant menu information is properly formatted and ready to go. This requires time.

May I modify my special Restaurant Week menus after I have submitted them.

You may not. Modifying your offerings when dinner guests will show up at your restaurant expecting specific items that have already been announced in the Menu Guide may result in disappointed customers and negative reviews.

May I continue offering my fixed-price menu to my clients after Restaurant Week is over?

By all means. Many restaurants have found that fixed-price menu promotions work rather well during the Summer months. Any effort designed to encourage visitors to choose Puerto Vallarta during the Summer months is a great investment for our destination, in our opinion!

My waiters may choose to offer our clients the regular restaurant menu first, hoping to get a larger tip. Is this ok?

Not really. Keep in mind that a considerable number of customers will wish to try out your restaurant during Restaurant Week. As such, they may be disappointed if they are not offered the special Restaurant Week menu. The best way to ensure that your wait staff will be tipped properly is for them to offer the best possible service.

Should I consider additional promotional packages?

Since it’s inception, Restaurant Week has collaborated closely with Bay Vallarta, who publishes the menus and provides additional promotional opportunities to participating restaurants. Beyond that, any advertising packages or dining group promotions provided by third parties to Restaurant Week participants should be considered individually by participants, as they do not officially represent Restaurant Week in any way.